“The Urgency Of The Harvest”
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31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
In his poem, "The Second Coming," William Butler Yeats wrote, "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity."
What a summary of the times in which we are living today: the worst have their passionate intensity, while the best lack all conviction. The simple fact of the matter is this, while a world full of people that are searching for answers, looking for something to fill the void in their lives....we, THE CHURCH, sit idly by sidelined by indifference, infighting, ineffectiveness, unwilling to address the internal issues within the church and within our own lives. We have the answer to every question, the solution to every problem, the remedy for every disease, hope for the hopeless, peace for those beaten down by the storms of life, and forgiveness for the sins of the World, all found in the person of Jesus Christ. The church is more concerned with politics than we are our purpose! The church has become more obsessed with who currently sits in office and we fill our time debating amongst ourselves the political rumblings of the day instead of focusing on our purpose in this World! How about the church become more concerned with our Father's business than we our currently concerned with Washington's business?!?!?! But yet, we must confess, the church has become nothing more than a slight resemblance to what Christ left when he ascended into the heavens and commanded his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem and wait for the Promise of the Holy Spirit for the Purpose of fulfilling THE GREAT COMMISSION and reaching the World with the message that Jesus Saves!! We have the form of Godliness but deny the power thereof, due to the many things that consumer our time and focus other than the reason as to why we exist! God didn't save you to sit on a pew! We must confess that we have become more like the pharisees and sadducees in that we are more content to teach the vanity of men's traditions and more concerned with the way things appear instead of coming to grips with the reality of the way things are. We are as is so accurately told in
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
- When you think of harvest you think of farmers.
- Everything rises & falls on the harvest.
- Will they keep the farm another year?.... Depends on the harvest.
* A farm can only last so long without a harvest.
· It can become a "hobby farm"
· A hobby Farm does not need a harvest to exist.
Afraid many of our churches have become ... "hobby churches".
You see everything depends upon the harvest at harvest time!!
- Other things become secondary.
The harvest waits for no man.
Matthew 9: 36-38 & Luke 10:1-4 ...... Talks about the harvest!
1 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Harvest time was the happiest time of the year in Palestine
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
It was marked by many religious festivals & feasts.
SHOW ME A CHURCH WITHOUT HARVEST AND
I’LL SHOW YOU A CHURCH WITHOUT JOY!
Jesus is not pleased with:
1. Fishing without catching (Luke 5:4-11)
- Ever fish like that? ... boring!! .. Rest? .. You can rest in heaven!
2. An empty banquet table (Luke 14:16-24)
- go into the highways & by ways .. compel: "Grab & pull them in"
3. Sowing without reaping (Matt.13: 3-9)
4. Fig tree with no fruit (Luke 13: 6-9)
- green leaves & shade were not good enough.
5. Lost sheep not brought into the fold (Luke 15)
6. Lost coin not sought & found (Luke 15)
7. A good harvest that is not reaped (Matt. 9: 36-38)
8. Proclamation with no response (Matt. 10: 14)
– Not just hearers but doers ... shake dust off & move on!
THE URGENCY OF THE HARVEST (Matthew 9: 36-38)
1. We Have a Tendency To Postpone The Harvest.
- Sneak this in from John 4:35
35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
- You say in four months!!
Jesus says: OPEN YOUR EYES!! LOOK AND SEE!! NOW!!!
"Lift up your eyes" ..... WHY? ... They are on yourself!
- Nothing will distract you more from the harvest than your eyes on yourself!!
Not later!!! ..... NOW!! "ALREADY TO HARVEST!!"
"Lift up your eyes" ... YOU HAVE A PURPOSE!!!
First principle of URGENCY: IT IS READY NOW ... WE JUST HAVE TO SEE IT.
* Eyes off ourselves ... eyes off the ground ... Look to the fields!
SEE FOR YOURSELF!
• Jesus WENT - SAW - FELT – COMPASSION
2. The Harvest Is Plentiful (Matt. 9:36-37)
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
A conservative estimate of 25-30,000 people in our three county area that are LOST
The shortage is not found in the harvest!
Open your eyes ... lift up your eyes ... look on the fields ... white ...
Wherever there is darkness .... there is harvest!!
Try and count the kernels of Corn!
Try and count the grains of Wheat!
The "hobby church" doesn’t see nor need the Harvest!!
3. The Harvest Is Valuable
- Not likened to sand, pebbles ... grass .. BUT FIELDS.
- Importance , significance, worth.
- Again the existence of the farm depends upon the harvest!
Not just numbers .... people!!!
Not just multitudes of numbers ... multitudes of people!!
4. The Harvest Is Ready
- The people of this world are more ready to receive the Good News than the church is ready to give it.
- If we don’t believe that we will not share the Gospel.
*** Attitude: Nobody wants to hear it.
Gallop Poll : Over 6 million people "What would it take to get you to church?"
#1 Answer: Someone to ask me to attend.
35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” 33 “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other. 34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
5. The Danger Of The Harvest
- Lies in the last few principles : Readiness ... Value ... Plenty ...
- Reap now or never.
WHY? Time of harvest will end ... what’s missed is lost!!
You cannot harvest when YOU have the time.
- You don’t say in July ... I’m not going to wait for Sept/Oct. .. I have time Now!
Jesus recognized this issue and points to another principle of the harvest!
6. The Workers Are Few (Matt. 9: 37)
- Some are reaping all they can ... But it is not enough!
- Jesus believed that results are proportionate to means used.
You can use a combine on the corn.
It’s people that harvest people.
How did you come to know the Lord?
.0001% .........TV or Crusade
1-2% ............. Cold turkey evangelism
2-4% ............. Church program
3-6% ............. Sunday School
4-6% ............. "Walk-in"
6-8% ............. Minister
74% ............. Friends and relatives
A survey among evangelical Christians revealed that 95 percent of those polled had never led another person to Christ.
7. The Workers Are Special (Matt. 9:37)
- Labourers ..... Those who don’t mind getting their clothes dirty or wrinkled.
- Got enough Forman ... bosses ... counters .... etc.!
- Those who will go INTO the field!
* You must get close to the harvest
* Go with your sickle! (Word is sharp)
* Picture the man with the sickle ... is the bearer of death!!
* The bearer of Gods sickle is the bearer of Life!!!
God never sent the person who never troubles a mans conscience.
HOW DO WE GET THESE LABOURERS?
8. Ask The Lord To Send Workers (Matt.9:38)
"Therefore" ... Because of this great harvest with one problem
- Motivated by the harvest
"Pray to the Lord... OF THE HARVEST"
- It’s His.
- He knows it.
- He cares more than us about it.
"To send out workers"
- Thrust them out
- Gk: Forcefully push them out
* Same term used when Jesus "Cast out the demons".
Divine Compulsion
Not our doing .... Gods doing
"Into His harvest"
- Again ... "His"
* The harvest God sent His Son for.
* The harvest Jesus died for.
• The harvest the lord wants us aware of.
9. Go When You Are Sent (10: 1,5)
- How many times have you been sent when you are praying.
*** Go through the .. I’m unqualified (Isaiah .. "Woe is me .. undone .. unclean)
*** To the "Here am I, send me!
LIFT UP YOUR EYES ... FIELDS ARE READY ... PRAY .. A SHORTAGE
WANT A NEED TO FILL?
Remember the Spirit was sent not for our ENJOYMENT but for our EMPLOYMENT!
If you become a harvester in Gods fields you will never lack for purpose or something to do.
Altar Call;
• Salvation
• Repent of improper focus
• Prayer for a burden
Closing Service;
• 4 prayers of a Kingdom-Minded church;
◦ Pray for Workers - “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into His harvest.”
◦ Pray for Unity – Acts 2:1 - “One mind...one accord...”
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
◦ Pray for Wisdom, Knowledge, & Understanding – Ephesians 1:17
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
◦ Pray for Power – Acts 1:8 – “Tarry in Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high...”
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”